SCHOOL CALENDAR

Events

Medical and Health

School Health Service

The doctors, dentists and nurses in the School Health Service have special expertise in child health and development and the way in which health problems can be helped at school. Their advice enables children to benefit fully from their education. If any medical problem is discovered you will be informed immediately and any treatment necessary will be arranged in co-operation with your family doctor.

Key Stage 1 children (infants) may be offered an initial appointment by the school doctor/nurse before the end of their second term if there is felt to be a need by the parents, staff or the medical team. Further appointments may be offered at the request of parents or if the school doctor/nurse feels a re-examination will be helpful. Parents will always be informed of proposed examinations by the school doctor/nurse and will be invited to be present.

The school nurse tests the vision and hearing of every child when they enter school.

Community Dental Service

The dental surgeon may carry out at school periodic dental screening of Year 1 and Year 3 pupils. You will be informed of any impending screening. The community dental service encourages children to visit their family dentist for their treatment but you will have the opportunity of requesting that your child be treated by the community dental service if you so wish. If you need advice from the community dental service, the school office will be able to tell you the location of your local clinic.

Illness

Young children can become ill quite quickly. Every care is taken to ensure they are well looked after in school but on the occasions when children become sick, or have tummy upsets or headaches, the school's policy is to send them home as soon as possible. The school lacks good medical facilities so it is therefore in everyone's interest to ensure that a sick child is returned to the care of her/his parents quickly. Parents are requested to leave their home telephone number, mobile number and work's number with the school, or an alternative number whereby they or a suitable friend/relative can be contacted easily.

Whilst every effort will be made to contact parents in the event of an accident, there may be times when urgent medical treatment is essential. On these infrequent occasions children will be sent to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible, accompanied by a member of staff. Parents should inform the school of any medicines/drugs etc which must NOT be administered to their child.

Children should never be sent to school if they are unwell. Not only can infection be easily spread, but a sick child will not be able to receive the attention she/he deserves.

Diarrhoea and vomiting - 48 hour rule

Diarrhoea and vomiting commonly affects children and staff and can be caused by a number of different germs, including viruses, parasites and bacteria. Infections can be easily spread from person to person (often by unwashed hands), especially in chldren. Following NHS guidance children must stay away from school until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours and feel well. If your child is sick at school, we will ask you or your emergency contact to collect your child. They should not return for 48 hours after being symptom free. We appreciate that this is inconvenient in many cases however it does reduce the risk of infection to others within the school. As an example, if your child is sick at lunchtime on a Tuesday they should not return to school until after lunch on Thursday providing ther have been no further episodes of vomitting or diarrhoea. We appreciate your support with this matter.

Medication

On occasions children may bring prescribed medicine or tablets to school and these will be administered at set times. These do not include proprietary brands of medicine or cough sweets, such as ‘Tunes', which should be left at home. All medicine, clearly labelled with the child's name, class and the dosage required, should be left in the School Office and a form will need to be completed which is a written authority for a member of staff to administer it.